Illinois Medical Malpractice Liability Insurance - A Crisis State

Illinois Medical Malpractice Insurance - FREE Quotes, Lowest Rates

According to the American Medical Association, Illinois is "in crisis" when it comes to medical malpractice insurance rates. Some of the highest malpractice insurance premiums in the nation can be found in Illinois and the effects can be seen throughout the state as physicians either stop practicing or relocate to other states where medical liability premiums are not as high.

While many of Illinois' 28,000 doctors pay higher premiums versus physicians in other states, it is neurosurgeons and OB/GYNs who have borne the brunt of the malpractice lawsuits. A 2004 survey by the Illinois State Neurosurgical Society showed that the number of practicing neurosurgeons in Illinois dropped nearly 26 percent in only two years -- from 180 to 134.

Some of the highest risk areas to practice in Illinois include Cook, Madison , St. Clair, and Will counties.

Who loses out in Illinois?

The loss of physicians to skyrocketing medical liability premiums causes a corresponding decrease in the availability of medical care and its associated services. Ultimately it is the residents of Illinois who lose out through lack of access to these qualified and experienced physicians. There is also a significant economic loss to the state. According to the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, a physician leaving Illinois to practice elsewhere represents a $1.1 million annual economic loss, including the loss of 12 office, hospital, and community jobs.

A knock-on effect is that many businesses especially in the high paying professional sectors such as information technology will not locate in areas without local access to quality healthcare for their employees.

The problems Illinois physicians face

Medical malpractice insurance premiums for Illinois physicians are largely determined by the expensive litigation system. The costs of litigation per person in the United States are far higher than in any other major industrialized nation in the world. While most medical malpractice cases do not actually go to trial, it still costs physicians and their insurance companies a significant amount of money and time to defend each claim.

Other States with a medical malpractice insurance crisis
Connecticut	North Carolina
Florida	Ohio
Kentucky	Oregon
Massachusetts	Pennsylvania
Missouri	Rhode Island
New Jersey	Tennessee
Nevada	Washington
New York	Wyoming

An Illinois doctor will pay almost twice what a California doctor pays for medical malpractice insurance. The difference in rates can be ascribed in large part to the fact that California is a state with tort reform. In fact, some observers predict a doctor shortage in Illinois as qualified doctors move their practices to states with caps, such as Indiana.

Malpractice insurance companies increase their premiums secondary to settlement and jury award losses in counties, such as Madison and St. Clair, IL. Part of the solution lies in Tort Reform including realistic caps on non-economic damages. Tort reforms are generally intended to limit the number of malpractice claims or the size of payments in an effort to reduce malpractice costs and insurance premiums.

Illinois Tort Reform

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, comparisons of states with and without meaningful medical liability reforms provide clear evidence that the broken medical litigation system is responsible for the crisis affecting Illinois and many other states.

Tort reform was introduced in Illinois in 2005 leading to a much improved environment for physicians with decreased malpractice rates and additional malpractice insurance companies entering the Illinois market leading to increased competition. However in November 2007 these tort reform measures were overturned by Judge Diane Larson of the Cook County Circuit Court when she declared the ruled that the caps on pain and suffering were unconstitutional. Judge Larson's decision will be appealed to the Illinois state Supreme Court so the outcome remains unclear for now.

President Bush addresses physicians in Collinsville Illinois

President Bush speaking to physicians in Collinsville, IL

President George W. Bush directly addressed the medical liability crisis in Illinois and other states in January 2005 when he addressed physicians in Collinsville IL. President Bush said "What's happening all across this country is that lawyers are filing baseless lawsuits against hospitals and doctors. That's just a plain fact. And they're doing it for a simple reason. They know the medical liability system is tilted in their favor." Bush went on to say, "Lawyers file medical malpractice lawsuits is states like Illinois. Juries hand out big awards that drive up insurance rates and doctors are forced to move or close their practice."

Get some of the Lowest Malpractice Rates in Illinois

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Disclaimer
All information in this article is provided is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the basis for making a decision regarding Illinois medical malpractice insurance. For advice from licensed insurance professionals please request a Free No-Obligation Quote.

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